Nyx List of Frequently Asked Questions [Last update: 08/22/97 by tknab] ** If you have a question that's not on this list, use 'fb' (feedback) on the main menu to ask (which posts it to the nyx.help newsgroup). If that fails, send email to 'support'. Contents: - Why can't I seem to create an account? - How can I get validated or get a shell? And how long does it take? - It's taking a long time to get (re)validated, have I been forgotten? - I forgot my password, what do I do? - Can I get a 2nd (anonymous/non-anonymous) account? - Do you have any documentation on Nyx? - Can I have a web page? Can you help? What viewers do you support? - How do you pronounce 'nyx'? - I sometimes have problems logging in, why? - I get a 60 second timeout trying to give a password - Why do I have so much disk usage? - Where should I store large files? What's my "official temp dir"? - How can I recover from file deletions because of disk space abuse? - How can I access the binaries/pictures newsgroups? - How can I change my shell (or get 'menus' back)? - Program XYZ doesn't seem to work right - Can I run daemons/bots/backround/cron/at jobs? - Is there any better editor than 'smile'? Can I make it my default? - Can I get a login name besides 'jsmith'? - How do I get a signature in mail? - What terminal type should I use? - Is it ok to subscribe to mailing lists? - Some programs don't use the screen right, what's wrong? - Why doesn't my backspace key work? - I have problems with downloading - How can I up/download using ftp? - I have a shell, but what path should I have? - Do you know of a local Unix bbs for my area? - What's wrong with the modems? - Can I get a file back from the backups? - How can I find so&so at site such&such? - I can't reach a certain mail address in the UK - How can I get my XYZ terminal to work with Nyx? - Can I *please* have access to telnet? - Is there IRC on here? and why doesn't talk work? - Can I forward my mail elsewhere? - Why doesn't my .plan file work with finger? - Are multiple logins ok? Can I use 'screen'? - Can I set options for 'rn' (or trn)? And quit showing new groups? - Can you carry newsgroup xxx.yyy? - How do I remove (or do other things with) files? - I created an extra account, what should I do? - How can I find out what a particular menu command does? - Where can I get a copy of the menu program? - Is program 'XYZ' on here? If not, can it be installed? - Can I install a MUD (or other M*)? - What is your position on pirated software? - Can I get newsfeed/nntp/uucp/slip/MX service? Store huge files? Etc. - Can I set up Term/TIA/other fake ip-services? - What's the best way to download my news so I can read it off-line? - Why don't you charge for Nyx? - What can I do to help out? =========================================================================== - Why can't I seem to create an account? Common problems include creating an account but not being able to log in because of a "time out" -- this means Nyx is rather busy -- try using that login/password later. Another common problem is when the 'new' program says it can't find a suitable login name; this usually means you or your communications program sent extra characters to one of the questions and it got your name messed up. Note, for instance, the yes/no questions require only 'y' or 'n' and no carriage return; under some (not fully understood) circumstances this can cause this error. =========================================================================== - How can I get validated or get a shell? And how long does it take? See the "authorization" form in the val menu, 'a' option or 'ac' option. It requires EITHER that you visit someone in person, OR that you mail a *notarized* copy of the form OR that you send a *personal* check (for any positive amount; only do this if you feel like donating to us _and_ want shell access at the same time; see 'fund' on the main menu for more info on donating). Note that the instructions contain detailed information what to do, lots of special cases are already covered [e.g., users outside the US, minors]. Please don't ask if you can be treated specially -- there are thousands of users who are in the same boat you are, and your ol' system admin does this in his spare time -- so special treatment is out of the question. If it isn't in the val/a document it can't be done. Please don't even ask. Don't even ask if the rules/procedures can be changed, the answer is already known to be "no". Since we're all doing this as volunteers, it can take longer than it should. Forms mailed in get done in batches, about once a week (sometimes more often if it's a small batch, but recently it's been running in excess of a hundred forms a week). On top of this, getting mail from the campus mail delivery people adds a day or more delay (since DU has its own zip code, the post office just dumps all DU mail on the campus mail people to sort and deliver). Finally, international mail can really slow things down. Judging by the postmarks, I'd say the average time for mail to reach my mailbox is about 7-10 days. I did receive one letter (from the UK) two *months* after it was postmarked (but most UK arrivals seem about 3-4 days behind domestic mail). So far, to my knowledge, none have been completely lost. If you haven't received notice of validation after, say, three weeks from day of mailing, ask; but not sooner. When you do ask, please specify exactly what you sent in (form? whether notarized or via personal check? if notary, copy of what id? if check, amount, ck#? To what address did you send it? If you're doing an anonNNNN account, include your real name). If it hasn't been at least three weeks, please don't ask. I process the forms as soon as I can (longer during school breaks, like Summer, when I don't get to campus as often). I don't have a lot of spare time, and it really irks me when I go digging around for someone to find out they really just sent it a week ago. (And, sorry, I do *not* have time to deal with "Can you send me e-mail when it's done" or "can you just tell me if it's arrived?" -- no, that takes too much time to do for everyone who asks.) My policy therefore is not to do _anything_ about such matters until after three weeks; please don't make me spend my limited time on your behalf rather than improving Nyx for everyone; just BE PATIENT. Note that we have many shells available: You can use the menus (with all features enabled), the standard Bourne shell (sh), C-shell (csh), tcsh (a C-shell with many additional goodies), GNU's Bourne Again shell (bash), and the Z-shell (zsh). (No ksh, but bash and zsh are similar.) You get to pick your shell once you've been validated (in fact, you'll know you've been validated because you'll log in one day and be suddenly asked to pick a shell.) =========================================================================== - It's taking a long time to get (re)validated, have I been forgotten? Well, probably not. I hope not. I do sometimes get way behind (sometimes, sadly, even months behind on non-system emergencies). You have a couple choices if it's been a REALLY long time (6+ weeks): (1) Wait, maybe asking what's up (but if I'm really behind I have to put off messages like that, even ignoring them entirely when things are really bad, since there's an alternative); (2) send in your validation material again. I know that's a pain for a lost password for example, but, I'm only one human being, Nyx is only a hobby, I do lots of other things, Nyx is free, etc. etc. etc. I try my best to keep up, but sometimes life gets the better of me, and I can get way behind. This would be completely intolerable for a pay service, but we're not, so that's the way it comes out. I have volunteers helping where I can, but there are some things that I have to do myself. =========================================================================== - I forgot my password, what do I do? Log in as 'new', create a new account, do a revalidation from that account. You can do the revalidation either on-line or by submitting new validation materials. =========================================================================== - Can I get a 2nd (anonymous/non-anonymous) account? That is, you have a non-anon and want an anon, or vice-versa. Sure. Create the other account by logging in as 'new', then do val/reval and tell it all the info, giving your existing account's revalidation password (and make sure you specific which account that's for -- there's a question for just that). =========================================================================== - Do you have any documentation on Nyx? Not really. See the info menu for starters. See also the comm/news/doc menu for information on NetNews, and the comm/internet menu. Mostly Nyx is comprised of existing parts, each of which has a manual page, which are usually available by typing 'help' in any given menu. Beware, though, that some programs (like 'rn', 'nn') have manual pages in the neighborhood of 100 pages! My advice is just to try things. (To try posting, by the way, post to the group named "nyx.test".) =========================================================================== - Can I have a web page? Can you help? What viewers do you support? Yes, you can have a page, but keep in mind the space limitations. We're in the process of bringing up another machine just for WWW service, but until then use http://nyx10.cs.du.edu:8001/~yourlogin as your URL. (It will *eventually* be http://www.nyx.net/users/yourlogin, just FYI.) Note in particular that if your page is TOO popular (gets a disproportionate amount of the hits, e.g., 2% or more of all Nyx web traffic) then you may have your pages limited in viewing hours to 1am-5am MST. You'll be notified if this is going to happen (it won't happen without your knowledge). Can we help? Depends... Ask on nyx.help for help with writing HTML or whatnot. We have no support staff to do it, but someone may voluntarily help you. Regarding viewers, Nyx itself only supports the text mode viewer, 'lynx'. I.e., other people on the net can see your web pages with mosaic, netscape, etc., but you can only see it (and other pages) in text mode (unless you have an account somewhere *else* that you can run mosaic/etc. from). The main thing is not to confuse the viewer itself with your own pages, which may contain graphics (but the viewer you use may not be able to display them, even though they're there for others to see). I know that may sound confusing, just ask in nyx.help if you need assistance. =========================================================================== - How do you pronounce 'nyx'? It is officially pronounced like "nicks" or "nix", i.e., rhymes with Unix. Nyx is in reality the name of the Greek mythological "spirit of the night", and is the root word for "night". In Greek it's pronounced differently, but rhyming with Unix is more important in this case! (But no, it's not an acronym for anything; so it's not proper to call it "en why ex" or spell it N.Y.X. -- it's just "Nyx".) =========================================================================== - I sometimes have problems logging in, why? Well, Nyx is currently comprised of three machines, Nyx, Mnemosyne, and Isis. Isis is a disk server for Nyx, and Mnemosyne has the modems on it. Isis is old, and sometimes crashes; it usually takes about 45 minutes to reboot (unless it's badly messed up). When this happens, logins may get 'hung'. Try later. Sometimes Nyx itself goes down, in which case the modems might answer (Mnemosyne is up), but you can't get logged into Nyx itself. If Nyx itself is down chances are it needs (or is getting) human attention and might be down for a while. Another less common problem is that just your directory is messed up (wrong protections, etc.). It's hard to tell the difference between this and a crash -- mainly this condition will persist and a crash won't (all will be ok, you an log in again, after reboot). If the 'new' login seems to work, chances are it's your dir; send feedback to get it fixed. =========================================================================== - I get a 60 second timeout trying to give a password Yes, this means Nyx is awfully busy (if it takes more than a minute to search through a 500k file, that's a slooooow system). Think of it as a built in limit to how busy Nyx gets -- it refuses to let other people on to make it even busier. Also, because of repeated vandalisms, we had to convert to a "shadow password file", the main drawback of which is to slow down logins. If you see "RPC timed out" during login, this is that. Just try later. Another possibility is that you're not set to 8N1 communication parameters. Not using that currently hangs at the "Password:" prompt. =========================================================================== - Why do I have so much disk usage? If you don't think you use hardly any disk space, but get a note saying you do, run the 'du2' option on the status menu. If you have a file named 'core', it's ok to delete that (it's just the "corpse" of a program that crashed; they get deleted daily anyway). Also note that various games you can save (e.g., rogue) produce largish files when you save the game. You'll see a file called ".." that may be large -- that doesn't count, it isn't part of your total (that's the directory above your directory; it's large because it has lots of user directories listed in it!). ALSO NOTE that the 'du' commands report in "blocks", not in K. A block may be anywhere from 512 bytes to 8192 bytes, depending on various things. You can use the 'f'ile menu, 'dir' command to see file sizes in bytes. (Currently, it reports in ***> 4K <*** units for home directories.) Otherwise -- look at each file listed by du2, remove the big ones. (I'd say "big" is anything over 50k.) If your .newsrc file is "big", then edit it and remove lines for newsgroups you don't read. If you don't read news, remove the file entirely. You can trim out unread groups by running the command "trimnewsrc", available as 'trim' in the news menu. =========================================================================== - Where should I store large files? What's my "official temp dir"? Please see the info menu, disk use policies document for extensive details. From a shell, that's /nyx/info/disk.usage. =========================================================================== - How can I recover from file deletions because of disk space abuse? If you get the infamous 'auto deletion' of files because you exceeded the limit... (a) read the mail you were sent more closely. (b) have a look at the .login and .cshrc files in /nyx/skel, as yours were probably deleted. (Only applies if you use csh or tcsh; you'll need to recreate your own if you use a different shell.) [Yes, .login & such files are deleted too, since some folks just don't get it, hide big files there, etc.] As for restoring files from backups, see the faq question for why the answer is 'no'... =========================================================================== - How can I access the binaries/pictures newsgroups? Since people were abusing our limited disk space and network connection, they have been restricted. See the comm/news menu's 'req' item to request access and the terms of that access. Note that this just notifies aburt of your request, who then enables the permission as soon as he has time; you'll get a mail message when it's readable to you (at next login after mail was sent, to be specific). =========================================================================== - How can I change my shell (or get 'menus' back)? Assuming you're validated (if not, see above), run /nyx/bin/ChangeShell from the shell (or put '!' in front if in the menus) and it'll ask you which shell you want. Note that this applies if you want to get the menus back at login time -- the menus are the first "shell" on the list this command will show you ("..../menuloginsh"). =========================================================================== - Program XYZ doesn't seem to work right Well, do let me know, but I also suggest posting a note about it in the "nyx.misc" newsgroup so others who might be able to get to it more quickly can hear about it. Post to nyx.help if you think it's something you're doing wrong; post to nyx.projects if you want to get involved in getting a new program up. =========================================================================== - Can I run daemons/bots/backround/cron/at jobs? Only with permission. Most such entities consume far more RAM than we can spare. If they are run without permission they will be killed upon notice and your account shut off. Permission can be obtained by sending mail to admin@nyx.net. Cron/at jobs are granted permission herewith *if* they run infrequently (daily or less often), at off peak times (wee hours of the MST morning), and consume almost no RAM or cpu time. Anything else needs approval. Games with daemons will *only* be run on Nyx10 (and only with approval). There will be allowed on Nyx (-not- Nyx10) one mud/mush/muck/moo/m* game -- see note about it in this faq -- and one empire game. These have already been approved; that means you can't start up another one. The problem is that these all consume resources even when you're not logged in, and are hard to regulate. The question is "what if all N-thousand Nyx users did the same thing?" In most cases the answer would be that Nyx would be so slow nobody could log in. =========================================================================== - Is there any better editor than 'smile'? Can I make it my default? Many! See the 'unix file access' menu, 'change default editor' option. We have pico, vi, GNU emacs, a couple emacs clones, and "smile", a Simple MIni Line Editor. Also, 'ee', a simple to use screen editor. If you want a simple full screen editor, use 'pico' or 'ee'. If you want emacs, PLEASE consider using one of the clones, as they don't slow down the system as much. Using the 'change default editor' will make this the editor that programs will call for you -- if you're using the menus. If you're using a shell, set the $EDITOR variable: In csh/tcsh, put "setenv EDITOR pico" in your .login; for sh/bash, put "EDITOR=pico; export EDITOR" in .profile. =========================================================================== - Can I get a login name besides 'jsmith'? Yes, get a semi-anonymous account. Log in as 'new'. It creates account names like 'anon0001'. Otherwise, please, no. While in small numbers this would be ok, and a few old Nyx users have such, I prefer you don't. Nyx doesn't support aliases, first of all. Second, even for non-"aliases", it's too much work for me to change your name. Third, if *you* do it then *everyone* will want to... and soon everyone on Nyx has some bizarro name. I don't want that, so I'm saying "no". =========================================================================== - How do I get a signature in mail? Use elm ('elm' on mail menu). In your .elm/elmrc file put "signature = $HOME/.signature". (Use the 'u' menu to edit this file. After you've run elm the first time to get it created.) =========================================================================== - What terminal type should I use? Use vt100. Nyx has the standard Unix termcap database, but vt100 is the most common. If you want to change it, see the status/terminal menu. =========================================================================== - Is it ok to subscribe to mailing lists? There are two issues with mailing lists: (1) it wastes resources if there are multiple recipients on Nyx and (2) if your account expires someone has to deal with cancelling your subscription. To address primarily the first of these, the guidelines for subscribing to a mailing list are: - First, make sure we don't already get it! Look for a newsgroup in the mail.* hierarchy that looks like the one you want. If not, next step is... - Post a note to nyx.misc, say what mailing list you're thinking of getting, and ask if anyone else is either getting it or would be interested in it. - If you get three or more (you plus two other) interested users, send me (aburt) mail, and ask me to set up a mail.* local group for it. After I set up the group, I'll tell you, and you can then subscribe, giving the list maintainer a mailing address I'll supply to you. - If nobody else cares, subscribe for yourself. - Then, watch nyx.misc for others who might at some point ask about that same list; maybe later it has enough interest to become a local mail.* group. =========================================================================== - Some programs don't use the screen right, what's wrong? Make sure your terminal type is set correctly (probably vt100), both on Nyx and at your end. See question above about terminal types. =========================================================================== - Why doesn't my backspace key work? It might be sending out "delete" (ascii 127) not "backspace" (ascii 8). Either fix your end to send out backspace, or see the status/terminal menu for a temporary fix. If you can't set your end, type control-H. If you're a shell user, set your "erase" character with "stty" in your .login type file. =========================================================================== - I have problems with downloading The most common problems with downloads not working involve one of: - XON/XOFF being turned on at your end -- turn it off. - MNP modems; turn off your MNP, especially if using Zmodem. - Parity problem; try using both 8N1 and 7E1. - Telnet; you can't reliably use kermit/x/y/zmodem over a telnet connection; instead, 'ftp' from your end into Nyx -- see below for the directory to go to. - Direct modem users now go through a terminal server, which bothers zmodem; using the zmodem "-w 1024" option should help (as in, sz -b -w 1024 filename from the shell; the menus do this automatically). Note that the version of kermit on here is very slow; I suggest avoiding it. =========================================================================== - How can I up/download using ftp? Cd to the directory /nyx/lib/download. The file 'filelist' has a list of all files and directories. Please do NOT do long running 'ls' commands, they really slow down the system. For uploading, put files into /nyx/lib/download/new, then log in and label the files by using the "label uploads" option in the upload menu or run the program "/nyx/bin/upload label". Also make sure the file is readable to others! On a related note, dial-in users might want to do in one step the two step proces of (1) ftp file to nyx; (2) download from Nyx via modem. You *can* do this, like this: - Ftp to the place, get ready to say "get filename" but don't do it. - Instead, say, get filename "|ONAME=filename sz -b -" for a binary file; for an ascii file, say "-a" instead of "-b". This uses zmodem to send you the file right as it's ftp'd. To use ymodem, use "sb" instead of "sz", and "sx" for xmodem, like: get read.me "|ONAME=read.me sb -a -" would download an ascii file named "read.me" using ymodem (ymodem atch, hence the 'b' in sb). =========================================================================== - I have a shell, but what path should I have? Make sure /nyx/bin and /usr/local/bin are on your list; user supplied programs are in /nyx/user/bin. Games are in /nyx/games (same as /usr/games). =========================================================================== - Do you know of a local Unix bbs for my area? Check the 'nixpub' list, there's an older copy in the downloads. Newer copies appear in newsgroups like alt.bbs. =========================================================================== - What's wrong with the modems? DU has a funky phone system. Our phone lines sometimes don't hang up (it's not the modems; you can unplug them, and the line is still busy!). Try another number, we have a bunch of them (see the banner when you log in for the list). There are also a wide variety of modems, some work strangely sometimes... Also, 871-3324 is a rollover line; but if a modem is hung, it will ring it four times. This means that if a couple modems aren't answering, and the rest are busy, you'll get about 8 rings, then a busy (weird, eh?). Also, you may have to set your modem to ATS7=255 (or whatever maximum it allows) to give it time to ring a while. And no, we can't lower the number of rings from 4 per line -- I'll say it again: we have a funky phone system. =========================================================================== - Can I get a file back from the backups? Sorry, no. We only do backups so we can restore the system in case of a catastrophic failure, e.g., disk drive dying. We back up to a combination of exabyte 8mm tapes, 1/2" 9-track tapes, and QIC-150 tapes, of which the most recent are often stored off-site, and even if not, we are not usually available to go get a tape -- what this means is that it is a real pain in the neck to get the right tape loaded. Not to mention that we store several backups on the 8mm tapes, which minimal indexing -- figuring out which file is which takes time. The end result is that it takes me about a half day of real time to get back just one file, and we absolutely do not have the time to handle the frequent requests for this. In other words, pretend we have no backups. Keep backups at "home" of files you consider important, such as your .newsrc. =========================================================================== - How can I find so&so at site such&such? See the doc in the info menu on how to locate users on the various networks. It ain't easy. The 'finger' and 'whois' programs are available to help in the info menu. For what little that helps. =========================================================================== - I can't reach a certain mail address in the UK Reverse the parts of the domain address: Instread of "uk.ac.foo" use "foo.ac.uk". =========================================================================== - How can I get my XYZ terminal to work with Nyx? Suppose you have an "xyz" type terminal. If Nyx has an XYZ terminal type in the /etc/termcap file, then do just the lines below that refer to "TERM" and ignore those about TERMCAP. If not, grab the termcap from your system that works (edit out the ones for terminal types you don't use to save space); load it onto Nyx as a file named ".termcap" then edit the file ".termtype" so it says: xyz Then, at your next login, all should work if you use the menu system. If you use a shell other than the menus, in the csh/tcsh you'd put this in your .login: setenv TERMCAP $HOME/.termcap setenv TERM XYZ In a Bourne type shell, in .profile: TERMCAP=$HOME/.termcap TERM=XYZ export TERMCAP TERM If you're having a problem with just the size of the screen (e.g., you're using a nonstandard size, like an xterm), try (from .login or whatever): stty rows 35 or however many rows on the screen. (Also, 'cols'.) The default, you se, is to use whatever your termcap size for #lines/cols, which is where the confusion arises. =========================================================================== - Can I *please* have access to telnet? It used to be "No, no, and no", but as of 3/1/94 we offer telnet and other network services. We still don't do resource intensive and hard to regulate services like slip, nntp, etc. (This includes faking slip with programs like term, tia, etc.) =========================================================================== - Is there IRC on here? and why doesn't talk work? Yes, we have an irc client, but we're not a server. Talk on nyx10 seems not to work right, try ytalk, or use it on nyx. While we're on the subject of IRC: NO BOTS. =========================================================================== - Can I forward my mail elsewhere? Yes, put your preferred address (say, jsmith@foo.bar.edu) into a file named ".forward" (dot forward) in your home directory. Then TEST IT to verify it works (or you may lose your mail). It'll be your problem if you lose all your mail because your forward fails...! Only validated users can do this. Preview users absolutely cannot have forward files -- get validated! =========================================================================== - Why doesn't my .plan file work with finger? You need to make it readable to the world (mode '644') *and* make your directory searchable to the world, such as mode 711. So, do chmod 711 $HOME chmod 644 $HOME/.plan or equivalent. =========================================================================== - Are multiple logins ok? Can I use 'screen'? Well, it's really quite frowned upon. Each user (or session via 'screen') takes up one "pty" (pseudo-tty), of which Nyx only has a limited number. While that number can be increased, it can't be increased infinitely, and if each user starts taking up 2, 3, 4... we'll always be short. When that happens, other users can't log in. Hence, please restrict yourself to just one session and login. Use job control to get several activities going at once within that one session. =========================================================================== - Can I set options for 'rn' (or trn)? And quit showing new groups? Yes, put them into a file named .rninit in your home directory. To have rn quit showing you all the new groups when it starts up, do "rn -q". Note that rn is really trn (threaded rn). If you want "normal" rn behavior, start it as "rn +x". =========================================================================== - Can you carry newsgroup xxx.yyy? We carry four "full feeds", that is, all the newsgroups that four major sites have. (Most systems only have one or two full feeds, for comparison.) [For the record, these are uunet, spool, tali, and news.du.edu.] If we don't have it, there are several possibilities: 1 - It's a local group (e.g., local to another city or organization) and none of our four feeds happens to get it from anywhere. If you know of a site that wants to feed it to us, fine, they can send it to new.cs.du.edu. 2 - It's a "pay" newsgroup, like the clari.* groups. We won't be paying for those, unless you want to donate the money yourself :-) 3 - It's new, and the message to create it hasn't reached us (yet). 3a -It's been deleted by someone (we accept all create/delete messages that look "reasonable", but these can be forged). 3b -It's being created/deleted repeatedly by some morons. Except for case 3, there's not much we can do. In case 3, feel free to ask one of the folks in the nyx.help newsgroup, or on the 'support' mail alias, to send the message creating it locally. =========================================================================== - How do I remove (or do other things with) files? Use the 'unix file menu', 'u' from the main menu. It has delete, etc. =========================================================================== - I created an extra account, what should I do? Do nothing; it will expire 30 days or so after you last used it. =========================================================================== - How can I find out what a particular menu command does? Read the menu files -- /nyx/lib/menus/*.men. Commands are at the bottom. =========================================================================== - Where can I get a copy of the menu program? Look in the download area, unix/admin/menushell.tar.z. That may or may not be more recent than what was posted to comp.sources.misc in July '93, archive name 'menushell' (do an archie on that to find it). =========================================================================== - Is program 'XYZ' on here? If not, can it be installed? Our (your admin team's) time is limited, but I fully encourage cooperation among the users to install new software. We created a newsgroup, nyx.projects, specifically for this purpose. There are lots of Unix hacker-types on here, or those who want to learn to be, so we let them deal with installing non-essential software. Just post a note and ask, or volunteer to help. There's a posting in there with "system rules" as far as directories to use, etc. We check it and post answers to hard questions. Think of it as a way of contributing your time to Nyx. =========================================================================== - Can I install a MUD (or other M*)? Please, no. Nyx (not nyx10) shall run ONE M* type game, that's all we have the resources to handle. Right now we have NyxMud. We'd prefer all users who want to operate M*'s work together to operate "the one", you can argue amongst yourselves how to do it. Discuss it in nyx.games and nyx.misc and let me know. Perhaps we should have some sort of vote once a year to decide which way to go. =========================================================================== - What is your position on pirated software? Absolutely not tolerated. If you see any on here, let the sys. admin. know immediately what file it is so it can be removed. Our policy is to remove all illegal software when it comes to our attention, so please don't upload any such. Also see the history in the info menu -- Nyx is genuinely not the place for that. Remember that Nyx is run by a non-profit corporation -- Nyx *really* *truly* is *not* a pirate board. (Despite the fact that the SPA thinks all pirate boards say this, it's true in this case.) In fact, this is part of the reason we went to full user validation -- among the other antics, anonymous users were caught trading pirated stuff (caught because they filled up lots of disk space in the always-short-on-space "/u" disk). We think our record speaks for itself, though I'll throw in that I'm no fan of the SPA's outrageous behavior: we will not tolerate totalitarian tactics -- they're a cure worse than the disease. So, to summarize: If you see anything illegal, let admin@nyx.net know so we can remove it. =========================================================================== - Can I get newsfeed/nntp/uucp/slip/MX service? Store huge files? Etc. - Can I set up Term/TIA/other fake ip-services? - What's the best way to download my news so I can read it off-line? No, Nyx doesn't have the resources for anything like this. This is where commercial services like CSN, UUNET, PSI, are recommended. Yes, you have to pay for them. TANSTAAFL. [There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.] And please don't circumvent this by, e.g., saving up all your news & downloading it. Yes, it is possible to download your news & read off-line. I prefer users -NOT- do this. It amounts to a newsfeed. The problem is that Nyx can't support giving each user a newsfeed: Newsfeeds place a high demand on the system for a shorter period of time, whereas reading news on nyx itself places the same overall demand, but spread over much more time. The net effect is that the load at any point in time is lower. If -everyone- did this (and it is a common request, that we commonly deny) nyx would become so loaded with newsfeeds that nobody would be able to do anything interactively, and nyx would be no more than a free newsfeed site. Thus, we *highly* discourage users from doing this and ask anyone we see doing it to stop. If you want a newsfeed, do what sites everywhere do: find a neighbor, set up a real newsfeed, etc. We'd have to add that we are inclined to view newsfeeds as somewhat of a commercial service, i.e., one that you should be willing to pay for (we do: we pay uunet $50/month for a full newsfeed.) This is where places like CSN, UUNET, PSI, etc., are necessary; they don't charge huge amounts of money and provide good services. Nyx -cannot- be "the newsfeed to the world". Nyx is primarily for people who use the net so infrequently that CSN/etc. aren't cost effective. However, once you start getting into serious usage [which I consider 'wanting my own newsfeed', uucp/slip/MX/etc. connections as examples], Nyx lacks the resources that they provide. Nyx is primarily an interactive site, not one that serves lot of people "invisibly" (newsfeeds, etc. are "invisible" in the sense that they only use Nyx as a gateway to somewhere/something else, not contributing to the well-being of Nyx itself, not being part of the Nyx community, etc.). We are willing to set up uucp connections that are EXTREMELY LOW VOLUME (e.g., no more than 100k in any one day) for long-time Nyx users (say, at least six months, preferably a year). If you're in this category, send us your uucp name and we'll add you to our uucp machine. Note that Nyx is not our uucp machine, and you can't uucp files from nyx no matter what. (And remember, small amounts of it -- mailing huge files gets your uucp connection cut off.) We have no dial-out modems, so yes, you have to call us (same phone# as Nyx itself by you connect to a different machine). =========================================================================== - Why don't you charge for Nyx? See the history & philosophy docs... mainly because we don't want to accept the liability that comes with paying customers! Being free, the University can cut it off at any moment, and say nothing, feel no guilt, etc. I don't anticipate this happening, but it could... On the other hand, we are most happy to take donations. See the 'fund' item on the main menu for how/what/where etc. =========================================================================== - What can I do to help out? Well, as far as system administration stuff, not much. That part of Nyx pretty much runs itself (as any self-respecting machine should!). The other stuff I would do but never have time for would be: - Help answer other users' questions in nyx.help. These are the kinds of questions I used to spend too much time answering all day long, so I made a newsgroup of it so others could help answer! :-) - Be helpful to other people on the net (e.g., post/mail replies to people's questions in any newsgroup where you know some answers). This helps Nyx indirectly by making us look like a bunch of nice, helpful people, and improves the "community" feel of Nyx. - Return phone calls -- we get some phone calls you could return, drop me a note if you want to be on the phone call returner list (no long distance calling required -- you call people back collect if they're not local). (Most questions are the "how do I get on", "what is it", "how much does it cost", "hung at login" (need 8N1) type.) Let aburt know if you want to be on the phone-call-return list. - Offer to take phone calls -- i.e., have your name/phone#/times-to-call on the list of support call takers (info menu 'support'). No long distance calling required (call people back collect if necessary). Let us know if you're willing to have Nyx people call you for help (send your phone# and days/hours you'll take calls). - Help with in-person validations (in the Denver area or if you live in a major area with lots of other users); contact aburt for info. - Labeling the download files that have "???" for descriptions. If you want, just pick a dir, figure out the ???'s, then mail me the list (and which dir). Also look for duplicates, old junk, replace with newer, etc. - Set up various programs. Look in the nyx.projects group for a list of programs people would like to see installed, who's working on what, etc. Set things up so all I have to do is a "make install" or the equivalent. Make them so they'll live in /nyx/user/bin with aux. files in /nyx/user/lib and man pages below /nyx/user/man/*. (E.g., set them up in a temp dir [watch out for the time limit on files in temp dirs though!] or contact admin@nyx.net for where to get a not-so-temp dir.)